The report offers a unique perspective on the experience of businesses of all sizes across the province. Through the Business Confidence Survey, the Business Prosperity Index and the Economic Outlook, this report presents a candid look at private sector sentiment and opportunities for economic growth for the year ahead.

“New research shows that businesses are gaining confidence in Ontario’s economic outlook as well as gaining confidence in them selves. At the same time, challenges relating to access to talent, embracing technological innovations and the cost of doing business – including regulation, taxation, and input prices – remain major sources of concern,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the OCC. Rossi said that the overall prosperity of Ontario depends on the strength of its regional economies.

He added that these vulnerabilities are expected to be most acutely felt in rural regions of the province.

“We should all be concerned that the province’s employment growth has been largely concentrated in the Greater Golden Horseshoe since 2003, while other regions have experienced slow or even negative growth during that same period,” Rossi added.

The report is aimed at shaping and informing future public policy and will act as a reference and benchmark for debate and policy change.

The key take-aways include:

– Confidence in Ontario’s economic outlook has improved. Thirty percent of members surveyed expressed confidence in Ontario’s outlook for 2019, up seven percent compared to last year

– Despite a more optimistic outlook for 2019, decreasing levels of organizational and economic confidence over the years have impacted business’ willingness to invest, take risks, and adopt technological advancements

– Businesses are gaining confidence in them selves. Sixty-one percent of respondents reported confidence in their own organization’s economic outlook heading into 2019, a seven-point increase from last year

– Revenue projections for 2019 are more positive than those of 2018. Eighty-six percent of respondents believe their organization’s revenues will increase or stay the same over the next 12 months, with only 14 percent anticipating a decline. This represents a notable change in direction from 2018, when 27 percent were projecting their revenue to decrease

“This year will be a formative year for the Ontario economy. We call on decision-makers to develop thoughtful policies that foster competitiveness and address the potential vulnerabilities that loom large within our province,” stated Chamber Operations Manager M.D. Woodward.

“We need to take action and address these challenges to built a stronger Ontario for years to come.”

As Ontario’s economy continues to face many challenges outlined in the OER, the OCC’s 2019 Ontario Economic Summit will be dedicated to the question of competitiveness with an agenda that will explore how our province can lead in innovation, knowledge-generation and trade.

The OCC and Huron Chamber of Commerce will be engaging their members, government and other leaders to explore these issues and develop the necessary solutions to drive forward a competitive province for years to come.

]]>https://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/business-confidence-improves-but-more-remains-to-be-done/feed0Worry that changes to Ontario Autism Program will hurt childrenhttps://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/worry-that-changes-to-ontario-autism-program-will-hurt-children
https://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/worry-that-changes-to-ontario-autism-program-will-hurt-children#respondThu, 14 Feb 2019 17:26:40 +0000https://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/worry-that-changes-to-ontario-autism-program-will-hurt-childrenFord’s government recently announced changes to the Ontario Autism Program.

Seeing the current program as “broken”, the Ontario PC government has the intention to reduce waitlists.

In an announcement from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, families of 23,000 children on waitlists would receive financial support.

Shortening waitlists and providing early support is crucial, yet the strategy to achieve that may result in harming children in need of funding and support.

Intensive therapy services can cost a family upwards of $60,000 a year, but provide children with the opportunity to develop skills to improve. Receiving therapy, especially what is clinically recommended, benefits the child and the parents.

For some families that means modifying work hours or picking up another job to afford support services while on the waitlist for the Ontario Autism Program. This can increase stress levels or send a family into debt while they wait for their number to be called.

A diagnosis can sometimes come later in life, and then there still remains the wait for government support while paying out of pocket for support services.

It is clear there is a great need for support service for children with autism and their families, as there are 23,000 families on the waitlist.

Ford’s government wants to amend the program to eliminate the waitlist and bring forth other changes, which could be more harmful than helpful.

A Behaviour Therapist at an agency that provides services to children with autism says that there has always been a waitlist and changes do need to be made.

Regardless of changes that need to be made to the waitlist, this Behaviour Therapist who works closely with autistic children everyday, says that lumping them all together in the same funding is socially irresponsible.

“I think they want to empty the waitlist and give themselves a pat on the back. We have some clients who could use far more therapy hours per week and still struggle to make gains as someone else in therapy for less hours,” they add.

“Some children just require more. Some of these kids can learn to be fully functioning members of society, with incredible skill sets, they just need to be given a chance.”

It is unfathomable for this Behaviour Therapist that with these changes to the Ontario Autism Program, children with autism would continue to receive quality service based on their diagnosis.

The new changes will grant children with autism under the age of five up to $20,000 a year, if parents are low income, for support services (therapy, respite) that are a cost of $60,000 a year. Funding would be less than $20,000 a year or nothing, if family income is higher.

On behalf of Huron-Perth of Autism Ontario, Bonnie Henderson says that the breakdown of how these changes will happen need to be re-examined.

“I understand it will help many that aren’t supported right now, but it will be harmful to those with greater needs. Maybe a program that evaluate(s) every child — if you’re a high-functioning person with autism, you might need less money than a family that is struggling daily with a very high-needs child with autism,” Henderson says.

Henderson suggests that a child who needs $60,000 annually in support funding will not do well with significantly less than that.

According to the announced changes, children five years old and over will receive even less, with only $5,000 a year until the age of 18. The provincial government has offered a family budget of $140,000 from time of diagnosis until the age of 18.

That amount would fund only one month in a year, of intensive therapy that many autistic children are clinically recommended to have.

In addition, if a child is diagnosed later than the age of five, they will never benefit from a higher level of service.

These program changes are aimed at reducing the waitlist in order for younger children to get into the Ontario Autism Program faster. An admirable goal, yet the governments’ strategy appears to be more harmful than beneficial for children with autism.

Children will be placed into a ‘one size fits all’ group based on age, ignoring the important criteria in which to determine funding – individual diagnosis and severity of needs.

It begs to raise the question, why does the government assume that children over the age of five years old require less support?

This is the second time the government of Ontario has tired to impose age restrictions on autism therapy. Advocates urge the government to consult more widely before making changes.

The ‘one size fits all’ model is a possibly detrimental change to the program, which would include a funding support cap. Funding will depend on income levels, rather than the level of diagnosis and needs of the child.

Children with autism require support that can be drastically individualistic and different in nature depending on their needs.

For a local family with an autistic child there have been many frustrations with the process from diagnosis to receiving the support services they require based on their child’s diagnosis.

Wishing to remain anonymous but willing to tell their story, this local family has gone through various therapy sessions and experienced frustrations with waiting for a diagnosis and waiting for therapy.

Yet, they don’t agree with the changes Ford’s government is planning on integrating to the Ontario Autism Program.

“Not having a waiting list would be great, but let’s be honest, the dollar amount each individual would get until age 18 barely covers what some people need in a year,” a local mother of a child with autism says.

“Plus, what happens to the kids with autism when they become adults with autism. Where’s the funding for that?”

For this family, they believe the only reason the PC government is making these changes is to make it appear they are making positive strides by removing the waitlist.

“Honestly, we would rather stay on a waitlist and get the full help we need for our son without having to pay for it out of pocket. We can’t afford all the therapy he may need in the future,” she says.

This local mother and father add that to accept the poor excuse of a yearly payment that is being offered by the Ontario government “won’t cut it”.

Autism is a broad spectrum with individuals ranging in needs and yet the provincial government does not acknowledge those differences in the proposed funding model.

Local agency Community Living provides services, including respite, for local families.

Executive Director Rosemary Foran says that resources and funding should be based on an individualized clinical assessment, not age, not family and not income.

“The Ministry did not specify which waitlist it is clearing, not how waiting lists will be managed. Is it the waitlist for initial diagnosis? Is it the waitlist for treatment? It should not be a ‘one size fits all’ approach,” Foran says.

In addition to families not being able to afford treatment, Foran says there are not enough specifically trained clinicians available in all areas of the province to meet the needs of families and children once the waitlist is removed.

When these changes come about it is difficult to speculate what the future holds for children with autism.

Early diagnosis and clinical intervention is the most beneficial, but that doesn’t always happen for every family.

Some cases a child is diagnosed older than the age of five, and with what the government is proposing, that child would miss out on crucial services specifically due to their age. That same child would lose out on critical funding if they are from a family of higher annual earnings, regardless of severity of diagnosis and needs.

Foran believes families need to advocate for what they feel is more beneficial for their children.

“Every family situation is different, each child’s diagnosis is different. It will be chaotic, confusing and frustrating for families to navigate a different system,” Foran says.

The proposed changes by the Ontario government will roll out April 1, 2019.

]]>https://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/worry-that-changes-to-ontario-autism-program-will-hurt-children/feed0Poor weather strands U.S. Coast Guard cutterhttps://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/poor-weather-strands-u-s-coast-guard-cutter
https://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/poor-weather-strands-u-s-coast-guard-cutter#respondFri, 08 Feb 2019 21:21:55 +0000https://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/poor-weather-strands-u-s-coast-guard-cutterAn ice cutter with the United States Coast Guard was docked in Goderich harbour last week because of 75-kilometre an hour winds.

The Hollyhock, a 225-foot-long cutter, attracted the attention of the public on Friday, and some residents were permitted to board the vessel to check it out.

The Hollyhock was in the Goderich area to break ice to allow safe passage for vessels carrying loads of salt. The vessel is usually used as a Great Lakes bouy tender.

“Salt ships come from Goderich to Detroit and need a safe route to achieve this,” said Ensign Kevin Wetmore.

“While conducting this the wind increased to 40 knots which left us in need of a safe place to stay until the wind decreased.”

The Hollyhock is based out of Port Huron. Crew members said they conduct missions throughout the Great Lakes.

“We conduct operations throughout the Great Lakes frequently and there is never any issues between the U.S. and the Canadians,” said Wetmore.

“There are times when we will help them with a buoy, and in turn, they will help us.”

The ship’s crew consists of eight officers and 44 enlisted members. Their time in Goderich presented an opportunity to provide public tours of the vessel.

For two days The Hollyhock allowed curious Canadians to board and visit the officers’ quarters, the mess hall, the engine control room and the operations deck.

Members of the public were invited to tour the interior of the Hollyhock while it was docked in Goderich. Among them were members of the Killbourne family.

“This ship is really big and I’ve never seen this before,” remarked Lincoln Kilbourne, who was excused from school to attend the tour. Crew members embraced the chance to spend the night in Goderich, a place many said they had never visited.

“We had the opportunity to see Canada’s prettiest town, which I don’t think anyone on board had visited before,” said Wetmore. The Hollyhock was to depart Goderich once favourable conditions returned.

]]>https://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/poor-weather-strands-u-s-coast-guard-cutter/feed0Coast Guard icebreaking support for commercial vessels in Goderichhttps://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/coast-guard-icebreaking-support-for-commercial-vessels-in-goderich
https://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/coast-guard-icebreaking-support-for-commercial-vessels-in-goderich#respondFri, 08 Feb 2019 21:16:57 +0000https://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/coast-guard-icebreaking-support-for-commercial-vessels-in-goderichGoderich, ON – The Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley worked in severe ice conditions on eastern Lake Huron this week to ensure a cargo ship could safely reach the port of Goderich.

Recent extreme cold temperatures combined with strong and gale force westerly winds created very heavy ice conditions. Rough estimates have the ice field from three to seven feet deep.

Icebreaking was necessary over the course of several days.

The Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley is shown working on Lake Huron in Goderich.

Signe Gotfredsen, commanding officer of CCGS Samuel Risley reported that with persistence and information gathered from the air, from a Canadian Coast Guard helicopter, they were able to complete this challenging icebreaking mission.

“Early Monday afternoon, with an open water lead that developed between two large shifting ice plates, we used this opportunity to widen a path that allowed for the safe passage of the cargo ship into Goderich,” added Captain Gotfredsen.

The Goderich-based tug Escort broke out the harbour and entrance channel. Coast Guard Icebreaking on the Great Lakes is delivered in close cooperation between the Canadian and United States Coast Guards and industry.

The United States Coast Guard cutter Hollyhock is now working on Lake Huron to continue ice-breaking operations.

]]>https://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/coast-guard-icebreaking-support-for-commercial-vessels-in-goderich/feed0Huron resident dodges scamhttps://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/huron-resident-dodges-scam
https://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/huron-resident-dodges-scam#respondFri, 08 Feb 2019 21:09:27 +0000https://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/huron-resident-dodges-scamAn Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh resident is warning others about her close call with a scam where she nearly lost $13,000.

The 55-year-old victim reported to Huron OPP that she nearly fell victim to an online scam that would’ve cost her over $13,000. The victim received a direct message on a popular social media site from someone who was pretending to be her aunt.

The scammer (aunt) stated she was going on holiday and would only be able to communicate with the victim through electronic means. The scammer then informed the victim that she had been the lucky recipient of a $100,000 US cheque after she was placed on a list published by the United States Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA).

Apparently she had qualified because of her spouse’s disability. The scammer then instructed the victim to contact an agent with the CFDA to see if she also qualified for some cash.

The victim followed her “aunt’s” advice and a friend request was made with the designated employee of the CFDA. The victim was informed she also was due $100,000 US in compensation.

To collect, the victim had to provide some personal information and was instructed to wire $1,000 to a person supposedly based in New Brunswick. The victim followed instructions and then she was instructed to provide 10 per cent of her winnings to another individual to facilitate the transfer.

The victim withdrew the cash and was prepared to send out $13,000 cash via a courier service however it was after-hours when she tried to make the transaction.

This proved fortunate for the victim as she ended up contacting her aunt directly. Upon speaking with her aunt it was quickly determined the whole story was a scam. The victim then quickly contacted the post office and the original $1,000 money order was recalled and the payment stopped prior to being cashed.

Huron OPP say that according to the United States Federal Service Desk, numerous other complaints have been received. They advise the CFDA does not use social media or direct phone calls to solicit, review or make awards.

If you want to report a fraud, or if you need more information, contact the Canadian Anti- Fraud Centre (CAFC) by calling 1-888-495-8501, reporting it online at the CAFC’s Fraud Reporting System or by contacting local police.

]]>https://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/huron-resident-dodges-scam/feed0More accolades for Cowbell Brewinghttps://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/more-accolades-for-cowbell-brewing
https://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/more-accolades-for-cowbell-brewing#respondFri, 08 Feb 2019 21:06:39 +0000https://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/local-news/more-accolades-for-cowbell-brewingCowbell Brewing Co. continues to reap accolades and awards. On Feb. 5, the Blyth brewery was formally acknowledged for its accessibility as it received a certified gold rating from the Rick Hanson Foundation.

The rating comes after the brewery achieved a 90 per cent rating for its accessibility, the highest scoring establishment to receive the distinction and only the second in Ontario to be so acknowledged.

Julie Sawchuk was at the brewery to make the award.

“Cowbell is an outstanding building and one of the things the Rick Hanson foundation looks to do is educate the country on how easy it is to be accessible,” said the foundation ambassador, who uses a wheelchair.

Brad McCannell, also of the foundation, said, “It’s inspiring to see a family business like this where people of all ages and abilities gather and connect to be so committed to an inclusive built environment and culture.”

The foundation was founded in 1988 but has only recently been awarded gold standard certifications. Over 1,100 buildings across have been registered to be rated for a Rick Hanson certification, and over 100 have been registered to be rated to the gold standard.

“From day one accessibility was at the forefront of the design and training of our team – and we wanted Cowbell to be a place everyone can enjoy,” said Grant Sparling II, the chief development officer for Cowbell.

“Considering this was a greenfield build we wanted to incorporate as many features as we could during the design and build process.”

Some of the accessible at Cowbell include high-contrast heated sidewalks, braille signs, spacious universal washrooms, tactical attention indicators and an accessible viewing area on their second floor.

Rick Hanson Foundation ambassador Julie Sawchuk shows off one of the accessible features found at the Cowbell Brewing Co. in Blythe. The elevator provides access to the second floor, and also features signs in Braille.

“When I come here I can see the amount of effort that has been established throughout the building,” said Sawchuk.

“It’s the number of details, the warnings on ramps saying there is a change in level, washrooms with a large enough turning radius and the user-friendly aspects they have incorporated.”

Only one other facility in Ontario shares the same gold standard rating, and that’s the Canadian Science and Technology Museum located in Ottawa. Cowbell is now working with the foundation to make the changes needed to increase their already high rating.

Grain farmers now have until Sept. 30 – more than seven months after the initial Feb. 28 deadline – to finish repaying their debts through the Commodity Loan Guarantee Program. That gives farmers more time to sell crops with higher-than-usual levels of DON, a byproduct of infestations in corn brought on by a cold, wet fall season.

Meanwhile, the 2020 deadline will also extend until September, in case the infestation makes a comeback in late 2019. The extended deadline matters.

DON festered in Ontario fields last year in part because farmers could not harvest their corn as quickly as usual. Even though most corn is now stored away, getting it to market — and finding markets able to accept high levels of DON — has been a challenge.

“A lot of the high-DON corn has relatively (few) markets it can flow into,” said Mark Huston, a grain farmer near Thamesville.

“The export market has been one of the opportunities. But once you get into winter your seaway shuts down, so your access to those external markets diminishes.”

The extended deadline, Huston added, means farmers can offset some losses by waiting until the spring to export their goods, when more markets are available. Otherwise farmers would have to choose between selling low to repay their loans, or forfeiting their crop and filing an insurance claim.

The Grain Farmers of Ontario petitioned the Ontario government for aid last year, alongside other agriculture groups in the province. Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs responded by investing in research and offsetting testing costs for farmers.

This is another step in that overarching process, Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton said Feb. 6.

“The goal of (those meetings) was to listen to farmers, and to come up with a solution to the corn crisis,” McNaughton said.

“(This) solution works.”

“It was very much appreciated and needed,” Barry Senft, chief executive officer with the Grain Farmers, said.

“This was part of a five-point request we had. The ministers pretty much responded to every one.”

Other farmer-friendly initiatives have been launched since last fall, including a storage-based research project with the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus. Planning for next year is a priority.

While the DON infestation was first blamed on unlucky weather, it now seems like that weather could soon become the norm in the region. The actual fallout from last year’s DON infestation, which affected scattered pockets on Ontario corn, is still being tallied.

Guelph-based Agricorp, a middleman of sorts between Ontario farmers and agriculture programs, reported it is still working to address yield losses. More than 3000 damage reports have been filed this year, a spokesperson with Agricorp said. Losses are now being pegged as high as $200 million, spread across Ontario.

Also reported by Agricorp was some good news: the amount of corn generated this year was roughly 181 bushels per acre, exceeding the 10-year average of 170 bushels per acre. It means projections of a bumper crop last summer were bang-on, and those with low levels of DON in their corn may have had better-than-usual years.

For everyone else, there is time to breath.

“(This) gives us a little more opportunity to capture a little more value in the marketplace,” Huston said, adding long-term storage is not expected to wreck the grain.

With the bitterly cold weather system that enveloped much of southern Ontario last week, various municipalities and counties throughout Ontario were scrambling to implement emergency services to protect individuals experiencing homelessness in their communities.

Although Huron County experienced that same cold snap there was no need to scramble or panic as we were one step ahead due to the already established Huron Out of the Cold emergency winter shelter, which has been operating out of The Salvation Army Suncoast Citadel in Goderich since Dec. 1. It is not a stretch to say that this winter the Huron Out of the Cold shelter has once again potentially saved the lives of a number of vulnerable individuals who call Huron County home who would have otherwise been sleeping in precarious conditions, exposed to the dangerous cold.

This year has provided further justification for the need of this emergency winter shelter in the county as close to 20 different individuals, both men and women, have already utilized this service. Since the first day of operation, on any given night there has been an average of eight grateful individuals finding comfort and care from the staff and volunteers at The Salvation Army in Goderich.

Captain Laura Hickman said, “It is very important for citizens within Huron County to see the value in this program and support the Huron Out of the Cold shelter, as they are able to ensure that it remains sustainable in future years.”

Hickman said The Salvation Army is grateful for the funds and support provided by the County of Huron and by various individuals, service groups and businesses that have already stepped up to partner with this program. She cites one example of how a local business, Maitland Manor, has partnered with the overnight emergency shelter by providing them with leftover food prepared in their health unit certified kitchen almost daily.

The Huron Out of The Cold Emergency Overnight Shelter is in its third year of operation and continues to fill a need in the county. This program is open to all those who call Huron County their home and are experiencing homelessness, whether they arrive at the shelter from Exeter, Seaforth, Wingham, Clinton or Goderich.

For more information call Huron Out of the Cold co-ordinator Jennifer Evans at 226-222-2105.